UK 2000: Metcalfe Brands Hatch test 2006-03-15

CUSTOMARY FRONT-RUNNING OUTING FOR METCALFE AT BRANDS

Fleet teenager Jeremy Metcalfe wasted no time at all in assuming his now customary role as one of the true Formula Renault UK pace-setters during a pleasing test at Brands Hatch Indy Circuit today.

The first of two back-to-back days of official pre-season testing at the 1.2-mile Kent venue saw the 17-year-old Team Lemac AKA sensation instantly return to his usual rapid form, having concluded last week's test at Snetterton early following an engine failure and subsequent oil fire.

With a new engine in place and the benefit of truly dry conditions for the first time since official pre-season testing began at the start of the month, Jeremy posted a quickest time of 44.517 seconds (99.16mph) during the morning to set the fourth fastest time of the session. JBut while improving by two 10ths of a second in the afternoon to set a time of 44.336 seconds (99.56mph), ending the session just 0.105 seconds adrift of the head of the timing screens, Jeremy is confident he can go quicker during day two of testing tomorrow and is looking forward to the challenge.

He commented: "It was quite a good day and we were fast straight away again this morning which is certainly one of our strengths, so I'm very pleased from that point of view. When some of the other drivers started to use new tyres we dropped to fourth on the timesheets with our older rubberbut all in all I was happy with our pace.

"We were still fast in the afternoon but I know I could have been quicker and I know where I can improve so I'll be aiming to put that right tomorrow. Andrew (Kirkaldy, Team Lemac AKA team manager) has given me some good advice and after looking at the data we're confident of being even faster tomorrow."

Today's impressive showing certainly made amends for the disappointment of last week's engine problems and Jeremy is now focused on topping the timesheets when testing resumes at Brands Hatch Indy Circuit in the morning.

Day two of the Formula Renault UK Championship's official pre-season test at Brands Hatch commences at 09.00 tomorrow, Thursday, 16th March.

-mom-